The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-03-16
Cattle Disease in Maine.

They are having quite an exciting
time in Maine over the legislative in
quiry into the nature and causes of the
disease which made the destruction of
the College herd of cattle necessary
last year, which we believe is now con-
coded to have been tuberculosis.
DR.. Winchester of Lawrence, men,
Der of the Massachusetts Cattle Com
mission, stated that he had had large
experience with tuberculosis, and it
was disease that was both contagious
and hereditary, identical with con-
sumption in the human family. 1t is
of slow development, and in many in
stances assumes a chronic form. The
different stages of the disease were
stated at length. The animal afflicted
usually has a cough, although cough
is not necessary accompaniment
The disease fuctuates in its choice of
location in the animal tissues-some-
times affecting one part, sometimes
another-as lungs, liver, joints, ETC..
but it exists in the blood of an animal
prior to its location in any particular
part of the system. He condemned
the use of milk from diseased animal
at any stage of the disease, though he
thought the beef might be used with
out danger if the disease was not far
advanced. He deemed the killing of
the animals at the College farm a wise
measure, and thought the killing of the
progeny of diseased animals was a wise
and proper course.
Mr.. Cheever, also of the Massachu-
sets Cattle Commission, said he re-
garded it as dangerous disease, and he
would not use the milk or meat of an
animal so diseased.
1t appears that when the disease first
appeared at Orono Gin November, 1850
there were forty-nine animals at the
College farm, of which twenty-six were
cows the remainder were young
stockholders, bulls and two steers-of
which individuals showed disease from
time to time and died or were killed,
and in April, 1886, the remainder of
the herd were killed.
Letters were introduced at the hear
ing from the superintendent of the Col
lege farm tending to show that the dis
ease had existed there for seven years.
Animals from the herd had been sold
and distributed through the state, and
there seems, from the report, that there
was difference of opinion among the
members of the Commission as to
whether these animals should be re-
called and killed, and that Mr.. Gilbert,
secretary of the Board of Agriculture
and chairman of the Commission, OPP
posed such action, while three other
members favored it..
We shall await the official report of
the Commission with much interest, as
the press reports put Mr.. Gilbert in
rather bad light-as unwilling to tes-
tify and to produce papers in the case,
in one case regarding letter which he
said "was addressed to him as brother
granger and not as cattle commits
sioner." A Mr.. Kent owned a bull
out of a COW killed and found badly
diseased. He wrote Mr. Gilbert for
advice, and was advised to retain
and use the bull, and when the select
men sent an official notice to the Com
mission one of the members examined
the case and recommended Mr.. Kent
not to use the bull He sent report
of this action to Mr.. Gilbert, who re-
piled in letter closing as follows
"The only thing to say is that he is all
right. If they do not feel easy about
it, it is none of your business. Then
you must sell him, that is ALL" The
Farm and Home, published at Augusta
is very severe on Mr.. Gilbert in its re-
port, which closes that of one hearing
as follows:
Throughout, Mr.. Gilbert's testimony was
evasive and contradictory. He seemed very
unwilling to have papers and letters shown
and hesitated in identifying them. His
conduct evinced the intrigue and selfish
ness of the uncutivated boor, rather thar
that of the intelligent public servant, anx
ious to do his duty and willing to be ques